Projectile



E. W. BRANDT PROJEGTILE Sept. 6, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1930 7 mm a E. W'. BRANDT Sept. 6, 1932.

PROJECTILE Filed June 17. 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. W. BRANDT Sept. 6,1932.

PROJECTILE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 1930 WMWM;

, Patented Sept. 6, 1932 ATENT. OFFICE Eran; wmma 31mm, or minis, airmenPIBlOJEGT-EE Application filed June 11, 1930. Serial no. 461 393, andin- France June 20, 1929.

The present invention relates to a projectile with numerousapplications, and more particularly to a hollow body applicable toexplosive and non-explosive projectiles, dummy projectiles for practiceor instruction,

smoke shells, incendiary shells, gas shells, &c. It has hitherto beenthe custom to employ for these various applications, projectile bodiesexhibting the various constructional characteristics appropriate to thepurpose in view. This lack of uniformity in the various projectilesintended to be discharged from the same ordnance of a given calibrecomplicated the manufacturing operations and fire control. In fact,th'eprojectiles being often of different weights and external forms, ac-

cording to their application, it was necessary P to employ specialpropulsive charges and firing tables for each.

Moreover, despite all precautions, accidents occurred in firing withpractice projectiles which ought to have been harmless.

These reasons made it desirable to provide a standard projectilewhich 1. When used as a practice projectile, it breaks instantly onimpact, without producing appreciable splinters, and under conditionswhich'render its operation free from a risk to the users.

2. When used as an explosive projectile, it bursts in exactly the samemanner as an ordinary projectile, with maximumeflicacy.

3. When provided with a suitable charge, it can be used in practice as asignalling, smoke-producing, incendiary message-carrying, &c.projectile, and breaks in a suitable manner under minimum pressure,sothat the' charge employed for that purpose will not dilsorganize thespecial charge of the projecti e.

The standard projectile according to the present invention fulfils theserequirements completely, and also enables numerous advantages tobeobtained from the fact that,

within a suitable range, it presents a zone of less resistance and mass.

Moreover, in constitutin according to the invention-1this zone lessresistance by one or more removable members, a projectile is obtainedwhich, when employed for example as a practice projectile, may berecovered after firing and be repeatedly employed immediately.

On the other hand, the fuse member is constructed in such a way that th.detonator may be placed, for preference, acing said zone, in order toeflect solely the rupture of the zoneof less resistance, more easily andinstantaneously, for example in the case of w an instruction projectilewith a charge of owder. I a

Notwithstanding the presence of this zone of less resistance, theinstantaneous character and force of the deflagration cause the projectile according to the invention to break up completely into fragments,when employed as an explosive projectile, without the useful effect ofthe explosive being impaired by the zone of less resistance. e

Other advantages and special features of the invention are set out inthe following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,which illustrate, diagrammatically and by way of example, variousembodiments of the invention as applied to a harmless practiceprojectile.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is an axial section of the front portion of aprojectile body according to the invention. Figs. 2 to 8 are similarpartial views of modified embodiments.

1 denotes the wall of the body of the projectile (Fig. 1) which, intheexample shown, is of ogivo-cylindrical sha forward end, this bodyexhibits a zone of reduced resistance, owing to the provision of arecess 2, of any suitable form, in'the thickness of said wall.

Towards the 35 The lower end of the fuse 3 carries the W detonator 4,which faces the recess 2 and is intended to ignite the charge (blackpowder, or other material) serving to indicate the spot where theprojectile falls.

In the case of a projectile for real firing,

' such charge will, of course, be omitted, and

the projectile be filled with a suitable explosive.

It will be clearly evident that the projectile according to theinvention can easily be given the same weight and also the same balanceas prior projectiles of the same type and calibre, by suitablydistributing the material corresponding to the recess 2 over the wallsand interior of the latter. V

In the case of a practice projectile, this bursts immediately on impactwith the ground, but only in the region of the recess 2, under theaction of the detonator 4 and of the charge (black powder) ignited bythe latter.

The gases escaping from the broken section produce a cloud of smoke,whilst the front cone. of the projectile penetrates into the ground,under the effect of theacquired velocity. The rear portion, or body, ofthe projectile remains intact and also enters the soil, after the cone,or remains in the immediate vicinity of the point of impact. Owing toits relatively large mass, it possesses sufficient vis viva to overcomethe action of the powder gases tending to force it backward.

The smoke cloud produced enables the point of impact to be observed froma distance, under conditions of visibility approximately analogous tothose of real firing:

The device according to the invention also offers the advantage ofminimizing the risk of accidents where, through some fortuitous cause orinexpert handling, an obstacle unexpectedly situated near the piece andin the trajectory of the projectile, causes the fuse to act. In suchcase, the projectile will not burst, the rear walls offering sufficientresistance to the action of the charge, and it will simply break in thezone of less resistance, the' small fragments producedwhich are harmlessby reason of their minute massbeing projected forward, in a cone ofrelative small base area, without risk of injuring th'eattendants by thegun. I

When the projectile according to the invention is employed with a chargeof explo-' sive, the velocity of propagation and the violence ofexplosion are such that the projectile bursts, not only in the zone ofless resistance, but simultaneously and normally throughout its length.

Notwithstanding the reduced thickness at the recess 2, its ogivalshape,combined with the intrinsic properties of the metal employed,enable itas experience has shown to offer effective resistance toViolent shocks,

' or falls from a height of several metres, such .as could occur only inexceptional instanc s during handling or transport. Thus the projectileretains its solidity. I

The modifications in Figs. 2-6 present, in particular, the advantage ofenabling the projectile to be used again after being fired.

.In the example according to Fig. 2, the zone of less resistance in thepractice pro jectile is obtained by providing, in the forward portion ofthe body, a certain number of perforations, such as 5, 6, closed byplugs, such as 7, 8, of suitable material and disposed in such a way asto be ejected, on impact, by the action of the charge.

The perforations, such as 5, 6, may also be closed (Fig. 3) by removablethin, and therefore light, plates 9, of metal or other material,suitably enchased, riveted or otherwise secured on the body 1, andplaying the same part as the plugs, 7, 8.

The projectile according to Fig. 4, comprises a body 11 provided with azone of reduced resistance, constituted by perforations 12 closed by aninlaid piece 13 which fits against the adjacent portions of the body insuch a way that the external contour of the projectile is the same asthatof an ordinary projectile. The upper part 14 of the piece 13 isgripped between the body 11 and the neck 15. Its lower edgetightens ajoint 16 consisting, for example, ofa copper Wire or a thread saturatedwith varnish, which renders the projectile perfectly staunch.

On impact, the piece 13 is torn off by the progressive thrust producedby the combustion of the charge (black powder), which then escapesthrough the perforations 12 and enables the point of impact to begauged. The body 11, or steel or other strong material, remains intactand can be recovered for future use with a replacement of 13 and a newfuse.

This construction offers, in particular, the advantage of simple andinexpensive manufacture.

Inthe embodiment according to Fig. 5, the zone of reduced resistance isobtained by means of a casting 17, which is screwed on to the body 18 at19, and on to which is screwed the neck 15.

The modification in Fig. 6 shows that still in accordance with theinvention'the closure member 20 is extended in such a Way that itcarries, at 21, the band of the projectile. In this manner, theprojectile, when used over again with a new piece 20, is always providedwith a band the tightening components, 22, of which are always perfectlyintact.

Figs. 7 and 8 show another construction, in which the zone "of reducedresistance is provided at the rear end of the projectile. This zone maybe constituted by providing, in the thickness of this wall, one or morerecesses 31 (Fig. 7), internal cavities 32 (Fig.

perforations 34 '(Fig. 8), closed,when re "quired, by'lplugs 35 ofsuitable materialand, preferably, lesscompact thanthe walls. The deviceaccording to Fig. 8 enables the practice projectile to be recoveredafter use. Q

The perforations 34 may also be covered; bythin plates, disposed insideor'outside the,

walls, or both sides at once; In the example in Fig. 8, .a rearc'oneI36-is employed, which conforms to the shape' of' the.projectileand' is held inposition by a tail piece 37 which is securedto the body by screwing at 38, or'

otherwise. A jointing member or fitting of any. kind, 39, renders theprojectile staunch.

gated instantaneously (certain smokedevices,

for example). .In' such case, the projectile" doesnot function directly,it comes into con-j tact with the; surface ,ofthe ground, but only aftera certain delay, during which its front portion will have embeddeditself in theear-th. I j

On coming into action the contents 'o fthe fclosmg the front of theprojectile, the nose portion of the body being apertured toproprojectile escape freely from the rear end'of the projectile," whichremains above ground,

so that the cloud of smoke is disengagedfreethus facilitating ly" and ingreat abundance, the task of-the marker.

Moreover, the zone of reduced resistance.

being situated in the rear, the more or less regular shaping of theexternal profile of the closing means employed in the case ofrecoverable projectiles, does not in any way impair'the ballisticproperties of the latter. In order to; distinguish these practice,

smoke-shell, and other projectiles from those intended for real firingand having the same external form, all that is necessary is, forexample, to mark orpaint them specially.

' It will be evident that-the foregoing embodiments are given solely byway of 'ex-' planation and are not restrictive, 'but that variousconstructional modifications may be introduced therein without the scopeof the invention- I Having now described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: -f .1. A harmlesspractice projectile comprising a heavy externally cylindrical bodyportion and an'ogival nose at the front end thereof, a fuse carried bysaid nose having a detonator of limited charge insufficient to disruptor bring said body to astandstill, the nose portion of the body beingcut away opposite the detonator so that upon the detonation only partsof the ogival nose and fuse. may be detached from said body portion andprojected forwardly in a cone of small apex departing from theweakenedportion so that by the detonation 'of said limite angle upon removal andsaid body portion continues forward after'the detonation so that.no'parts of the projectile are thrown backward or laterally in event ofa detonation adjacent the projecting weapon.

2. A harmless practice projectile, comprising a hollow heavy body with acylindrical body portion and an ogival nose at its front end,aifusecarried by said nose and closing the front of the'projectile, thenose portion of the 'body being weakened. interiorly between the fuseand said cylindrical portion, said fuse including a detonator of limitedcharge insufiicient to disrupt or bring said cylindrical portion to astandstill and supported opposite said weakened portion, whereby upondetonation the rupture of the body is confined to parts-0f said bodyandfuse severed from said cylindrical portion are projected forwardly in acone of small apex angle upon disruption and said bod continues forwardafter the detonation so t at no parts of the projectile are thrownbackward or laterally in event of a detonation adjacent the projectmgweapon.

'3. c A harmless practice projectile which may be recovered'and re-used,comprising a .hollow heavy body with an ogi'val nose at its front end, afuse carried by said nose and vide passages through the body walldirected forwardly of planes transverse to the axis of the body, saidfuseincluding a detonator of limited charge insuflicient to disrupt orbring said body to a standstill and supported opposite said inner endsof said passages, and

claim 3 in which said closures are of material of low density and lightweight so that a small detonator charge is suflicient to project themfrom closing position.

5. A harmless practice projectile which may be recovered and re-used,comprising a heavy hollow body, a fuse having a detonator of limitedcharge insuflicient to disrupt or bring said body to a standstill, and adisruptable and renewable mounting ring attached to said body and saidfuse for connecting them fixedly together and forming a part of thefront of the projectile, said fuse and body providing between them aforwardly and out wardly inclined passage through which the shock ofdetonation may operate upon the mounting ring to disrupt the latter,said inclination of the passage operating to cause the projection of thefuse and mounting ring forwardly upon disruption from the body within acone of small apex angle, and whereby said body continues forward uponthe det- 5 onation so that no parts of the projectile are thrownbackward or laterally in event of a detonation adj acent the projectingweapon.

6. A harmless practice projectile as in claim 5 in which the mountinring is constructed and arranged to be bro en into fragments by thedetonation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR WILLIAM BRANDT.

